Distraught Blackburn family gathers at canal as body is found - but it's not missing David Young

FAMILY and friends of a missing man gathered at the canal in Blackburn after finding out that a body had been discovered.

David Young’s mother said they went through a rollercoaster of emotions yesterday – only to learn that the dead man was not her son.

Police last night said the man found near the Lock Mill Tavern, in Bolton Road, was 63-year-old Melvyn Ashe from Blackburn.

It is understood Mr Ashe had been walking home along the canal on Tuesday night following an evening in the town centre with his brother.

Mr Young’s mother Jacqueline Marsden, 52, who lives in Livesey Branch Road, said her family had feared the worst when a dog walker reported seeing a body in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal yesterday morning.

She said: “We are in such turmoil not knowing where David is. I thought that it must have been his body.

“We are now thinking of this other man’s family and what they are going through.”

Mr Young, a 28-year-old father of six-year-old twin boys, has not been seen since he was in Albion Street near to the canal bridge on October 17 around 10.30pm.

Police divers using sonar equipment had searched parts of the canal after witnesses said Mr Young was on the road, walking in a disorientated state.

Family and friends have also organised further searches and made appeals for information.

Mrs Marsden said: “I am an absolute mess. This has been going on for a month now.

“But it does give us a little bit of hope. If it was not him, it means he could still be alive and that is a relief for me.”

Mrs Marsden said she found out about the discovery of the body after a family friend called to let her know about police activity at the canal.

She said she called officers who confirmed they had found a body.

She then anxiously waited by her phone for news. Some of Mr Young’s friends, as well as his brother, went to the canal.

Close friend 24-year-old Zoe Parkinson, who was amongst those at the canalside, said: “I got told that a body had been found so we all went down hoping and praying it wasn’t David, which it wasn’t.

“I still believe he is out there somewhere and I just want him to get in touch.”

Mrs Marsden made a renewed appeal about her son’s whereabouts and urged anyone with any information to tell police.

She said: “I don’t have a clue where he is. Nobody knows anything, but I do believe he is alive somewhere.

“I just want any news at all. I am really hoping for him to just come home.”

“He always stays in touch with his family and friends, so this is definitely out of character.”

Mr Young was wearing a grey Jack Jones jumper, black tracksuit bottoms with a red stripe and navy blue Nike trainers, when he disappeared.

Insp David Ashcroft said: “Police received a call around 8am reporting a body in the Leeds-Liverpool canal at Blackburn, opposite the old Infirmary on Bolton Road.

“Officers are still trying to establish the circumstances around exactly what has happened. The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and is thought to have been a tragic accident.

“We are trying to piece together his movements on Tuesday evening but at this stage believe that Mr Ashe had been out in Blackburn town centre for a drink with his brother and was walking home along the canal path.”

Comments

[deleted]
11:44am Thu 15 Nov 12

[deleted]

What a tragic co-incidence, and whats happening on the canals these days, seem to be loads of folk falling in after an evenings drink.
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I hope this family find their loved one and condolences to the family of the gent discovered. R.I.Puseyourhead

What a tragic co-incidence, and whats happening on the canals these days, seem to be loads of folk falling in after an evenings drink.
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I hope this family find their loved one and condolences to the family of the gent discovered. R.I.P

Score: 0

incaca
1:24pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Is it just me or does anyone else think, something more sinister is going on around the canal at this end of Blackburn. Two bodies found just weeks apart and a man that has not been seen since shortly after 10.30pm on 17th October on Albion street canal bridge. This is just speculation but the body of Andy O'neil (RIP) could of possibly been in the canal at the same time that someone used David Youngs mobile phone,,,,,,,,

RIP Andrew O'neil my thoughts go to your family & friends

RIP Melvyn Ashe my thoughts go to your family & friends

My thoughts also go to David Youngs family in this troubling time. Keep putting the message out there and hopefully we can get him home safe.

Is it just me or does anyone else think, something more sinister is going on around the canal at this end of Blackburn. Two bodies found just weeks apart and a man that has not been seen since shortly after 10.30pm on 17th October on Albion street canal bridge. This is just speculation but the body of Andy O'neil (RIP) could of possibly been in the canal at the same time that someone used David Youngs mobile phone,,,,,,,,
RIP Andrew O'neil my thoughts go to your family & friends
RIP Melvyn Ashe my thoughts go to your family & friends
My thoughts also go to David Youngs family in this troubling time. Keep putting the message out there and hopefully we can get him home safe.incaca

Is it just me or does anyone else think, something more sinister is going on around the canal at this end of Blackburn. Two bodies found just weeks apart and a man that has not been seen since shortly after 10.30pm on 17th October on Albion street canal bridge. This is just speculation but the body of Andy O'neil (RIP) could of possibly been in the canal at the same time that someone used David Youngs mobile phone,,,,,,,,

RIP Andrew O'neil my thoughts go to your family & friends

RIP Melvyn Ashe my thoughts go to your family & friends

My thoughts also go to David Youngs family in this troubling time. Keep putting the message out there and hopefully we can get him home safe.

Score: 7

katey h
1:37pm Thu 15 Nov 12

omg hate reading all this bad news , thinking of all familys rite now RIP , and hope david turns up ok

omg hate reading all this bad news , thinking of all familys rite now RIP , and hope david turns up okkatey h

omg hate reading all this bad news , thinking of all familys rite now RIP , and hope david turns up ok

Score: 0

Jarisleif5
2:13pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I would like to think nothing is going on around that area but the fact is, it's very dark in places and almost to the point where it's impossible to see where you're going.

Adequate lighting is needed but it will never happen.

I would like to think nothing is going on around that area but the fact is, it's very dark in places and almost to the point where it's impossible to see where you're going.
Adequate lighting is needed but it will never happen.Jarisleif5

I would like to think nothing is going on around that area but the fact is, it's very dark in places and almost to the point where it's impossible to see where you're going.

Adequate lighting is needed but it will never happen.

Score: 0

sharrrron
2:55pm Thu 15 Nov 12

another very sad story to read...R.I.P melvyn ashe,my heart goes to your family at this sad time!

How many more deaths does there have to be at the canal before something is done,...maybe its time people campaigned for lights or even better, safety guard rails.....

I totally feel for david youngs family,and i hope he is found safe,keep up the good work on his missing david young fb page ****

another very sad story to read...R.I.P melvyn ashe,my heart goes to your family at this sad time!
How many more deaths does there have to be at the canal before something is done,...maybe its time people campaigned for lights or even better, safety guard rails.....
I totally feel for david youngs family,and i hope he is found safe,keep up the good work on his missing david young fb page ****sharrrron

another very sad story to read...R.I.P melvyn ashe,my heart goes to your family at this sad time!

How many more deaths does there have to be at the canal before something is done,...maybe its time people campaigned for lights or even better, safety guard rails.....

I totally feel for david youngs family,and i hope he is found safe,keep up the good work on his missing david young fb page ****

Score: 3

sharrrron
2:56pm Thu 15 Nov 12

incaca wrote…

Is it just me or does anyone else think, something more sinister is going on around the canal at this end of Blackburn. Two bodies found just weeks apart and a man that has not been seen since shortly after 10.30pm on 17th October on Albion street canal bridge. This is just speculation but the body of Andy O'neil (RIP) could of possibly been in the canal at the same time that someone used David Youngs mobile phone,,,,,,,,

RIP Andrew O'neil my thoughts go to your family & friends

RIP Melvyn Ashe my thoughts go to your family & friends

My thoughts also go to David Youngs family in this troubling time. Keep putting the message out there and hopefully we can get him home safe.

i totally agree with everything you have written,its so sad xxx

[quote][p][bold]incaca[/bold] wrote:
Is it just me or does anyone else think, something more sinister is going on around the canal at this end of Blackburn. Two bodies found just weeks apart and a man that has not been seen since shortly after 10.30pm on 17th October on Albion street canal bridge. This is just speculation but the body of Andy O'neil (RIP) could of possibly been in the canal at the same time that someone used David Youngs mobile phone,,,,,,,,
RIP Andrew O'neil my thoughts go to your family & friends
RIP Melvyn Ashe my thoughts go to your family & friends
My thoughts also go to David Youngs family in this troubling time. Keep putting the message out there and hopefully we can get him home safe.[/p][/quote]i totally agree with everything you have written,its so sad xxxsharrrron

incaca wrote…

Is it just me or does anyone else think, something more sinister is going on around the canal at this end of Blackburn. Two bodies found just weeks apart and a man that has not been seen since shortly after 10.30pm on 17th October on Albion street canal bridge. This is just speculation but the body of Andy O'neil (RIP) could of possibly been in the canal at the same time that someone used David Youngs mobile phone,,,,,,,,

RIP Andrew O'neil my thoughts go to your family & friends

RIP Melvyn Ashe my thoughts go to your family & friends

My thoughts also go to David Youngs family in this troubling time. Keep putting the message out there and hopefully we can get him home safe.

i totally agree with everything you have written,its so sad xxx

Score: 2

woolywords
3:35pm Thu 15 Nov 12

As a regular user of the canal towpath to both commute and as a quick way to get across town on a bicycle, I have noticed that, where this time last year many of the lights were in working order, I have to report that many of them are now not. Whether this is an attempt by British Waterways to reduce the costs of lighting or just poor quality maintainence, I have no idea.
Anyone considering using the towpath as night falls or after should carry a torch since large parts of it are now unlit. The towpath itself is, in parts, in a poor state of repair and is very uneven. There should be either works undertaken to remedy the situation or closure of the towpath at Sunset.
Am sure it would be of interest to many a reader if the Telegraph did a little investigative journalism along the lines of proving the tragic coincidence of these deaths of late. No doubt the Coroner will begin to wonder what is going on in this area, when so many similar cases keep cropping up.

As a regular user of the canal towpath to both commute and as a quick way to get across town on a bicycle, I have noticed that, where this time last year many of the lights were in working order, I have to report that many of them are now not. Whether this is an attempt by British Waterways to reduce the costs of lighting or just poor quality maintainence, I have no idea.
Anyone considering using the towpath as night falls or after should carry a torch since large parts of it are now unlit. The towpath itself is, in parts, in a poor state of repair and is very uneven. There should be either works undertaken to remedy the situation or closure of the towpath at Sunset.
Am sure it would be of interest to many a reader if the Telegraph did a little investigative journalism along the lines of proving the tragic coincidence of these deaths of late. No doubt the Coroner will begin to wonder what is going on in this area, when so many similar cases keep cropping up.woolywords

As a regular user of the canal towpath to both commute and as a quick way to get across town on a bicycle, I have noticed that, where this time last year many of the lights were in working order, I have to report that many of them are now not. Whether this is an attempt by British Waterways to reduce the costs of lighting or just poor quality maintainence, I have no idea.
Anyone considering using the towpath as night falls or after should carry a torch since large parts of it are now unlit. The towpath itself is, in parts, in a poor state of repair and is very uneven. There should be either works undertaken to remedy the situation or closure of the towpath at Sunset.
Am sure it would be of interest to many a reader if the Telegraph did a little investigative journalism along the lines of proving the tragic coincidence of these deaths of late. No doubt the Coroner will begin to wonder what is going on in this area, when so many similar cases keep cropping up.

Score: 6

craigmufc
10:51pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Accidents and suicides happen all the time on this stretch of the canal. Surely its about time the council, police and waterways came together to sort this issue out and what can be done to help prevent the incidents. Its so sad for the families, But how upsetting is it for the public who come across these bodies. How many lives will it take before action is taken. Local councilors get together and sort this out.

Accidents and suicides happen all the time on this stretch of the canal. Surely its about time the council, police and waterways came together to sort this issue out and what can be done to help prevent the incidents. Its so sad for the families, But how upsetting is it for the public who come across these bodies. How many lives will it take before action is taken. Local councilors get together and sort this out.craigmufc

Accidents and suicides happen all the time on this stretch of the canal. Surely its about time the council, police and waterways came together to sort this issue out and what can be done to help prevent the incidents. Its so sad for the families, But how upsetting is it for the public who come across these bodies. How many lives will it take before action is taken. Local councilors get together and sort this out.

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